Cross Stitch Travels

We just got back from Dallas for another family wedding.  

This time we went to a cross stitch store.  

I did a little research on line and then posted on a few FB pages fore recommendations

Two popped up: Creative Stitches and Stitch Niche.  

The recommendations were all favorable.  

I opted for the Stitch Niche because I felt it would be all cross stitch.  

Creative Stitches looked like it was more needlepoint.    

My wonderful husband found the why with GPS. 

I was not disappointed!

They had a lot of samplers stitched up. 

Many of them had been stitched by a man and he is an incredible stitcher!

She had a great assortment of fibers:  dmc, overdyes and silks.  

She also had a good selection of fabric.  

She had several Hands Across the Seas, Kathy Barrick, Scarlet Letter  and Scarlet House  patterns.  

Wall of Gloriana Silks.  

My husband said those aren't that bad, $8, until I pointed out with one of the patterns and the number of skeins needed, what the cost would be.

  I do love silk but, I have a little difficulty justifying the cost.  

Right above the Gloriana was Village Square Mary Allen Sampler by Samplers Remembered.  

I fell in love with this.

She didn't have it in stock but, is getting it for me.  

The front of the store.  

She had a lot of Little House, La D Da, Prairie Schooler and more than I can remember.  

Plum Street, Stacy Nash and Chessie and Me.  

Bob immediately found a "guy chair" and hung out.  

So the goodies I picked up.  

Nothing much here, just some floss I needed but, a needle minder

I think it is from a Heartsting Samplery:  "First I drink the coffee, then I do the things."

Some Shakespeare's Sampler

Jenny Beans Creation Sampler

The new series, Jenny Bean For The Parlor.  

It will be the same size as And They Sinned.  

I will need to get the next seven parts.  

I may have the Stitching Bee order the rest for me.  

I actually picked this Stacy Nash at the Bee on the way to Milwaukee because we flew out of there.  

We were able to get a direct flight.  

Mary Jane Smallman from Brenda Gervais.  

It is a reproduction sampler that is very sweet.  

I haven't seen this one before.  

Pineberry Lane Susanna Pratt.  

I have seen people working on this one.  

La-D-Da:  A Happy Life Sampler and Auspicious Hope.  

I really am a La-D-Da fan.  

They are usually a pretty quick stitch.  

Sometimes, I need some instant gratification.  

Will be posting more pictures from our trip.  

Buster is due for a hair cut.  

He is really shaggy right now, my favorite way.  

I think he is still so uber cute!

Katy refers to it as "Fluff with attitude."

I took his sweater off to wash it.  

He goes to the groomer and will need that sweater because it is his warmest one.  

We have another snow storm on the horizon for tomorrow, 3-5 inches, so not that bad.

We have more than enough.  It was in the '70's our first two days in Dallas and then dropped to the '50's.  

It still was better than here where this morning when I got up, it was -16.  

That about sums it up for now.  

I need to do some stitching.

Keep Stitching 

Monica

And Even More Weather

I think on Friday we were the coldest places in the contiguous United States.  

After the really cold weather of the previous week and the warm weekend, we had rain on Monday that turned to an ice storm.  

Parking lots were incredibly bad so, Bob took me to work. 

Then we got six inches of snow Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, so Bob took me to work on Wednesday.  

We live on a corner.  

As the snowplows plow and turn the corner, all the snow gets dumped at the bottom of our driveway.  

There was about two feet of snow at the end of the drive.  

It started snowing again Thursday afternoon and we got another six inches of snow.  

I told him I could drive myself to work since I was able to get out of the driveway before the snowplows came through.  

He came home early from work and got the driveway cleaned out before I got home.  

We got two or three more inches yesterday .  

The good thing is it light and fluffy.  

Henry after he's been out rooting around in the snow.  

There had been more snow on his muzzle before I was able to get the phone.  

 After Tuesday, I had to light the Christmas lights to see how the deer were buried.  

 The chimnea after the first snow storm.  

 We are suppose to get another snowstorm Tuesday into Wednesday that may accumulate to 7-10 inches

OUCH!

Spring better be early this year.  

The last couple of years, the early part of winter has been pretty mild and late spring has been when we have been hit by storms.  

It needs to get nice in March!  Just sayin!!

Since there isn't much else to do...haha

I've had some progress on Sarah.  

I nearly have the flower border done.  

There is a lot of satin stitching.  

There is a flower in the border that has a satin stitched center.  

I will try one but, if it doesn't lay nice, I may do something different.  

I have found if the satin stitch is too long it gets wavy.

You can't pull too hard otherwise that distorts the look.  

Even though it is a reproduction, I really don't care if I stay true to the design.  

Sorry the lighting isn't the best.  

Hope the weather is better where you are.

I'm not really complaining, Bob takes care of the snow, it's just a hassle getting out and about. 

It is a good excuse to cozy up and stitch!

Have a wonderful week!

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Now Comes the Ice

We have had very cold weather.

Our windows were in a constant state of  frost.  

Things started getting better on Friday, a high of 17 that day.  

Yesterday was really nice.  

Today not so great....not cold but, very damp.  

This morning it was foggy which means untreated sidewalks were slippery.  

It has gotten into the 30's today but, starting about 9 pm we are suppose to get freezing rain and ice.

Tomorrow's commute will probably be a nightmare.  

I just went and picked up my work computer so I can do a little work from at home but, that doesn't really amount to much.  

I will have the ability to make cancellations.  

With it being so cold last week I did get some knitting done.  

Last year I made a scarf out of some Rowan Thick n Thin yarn but, wasn't really very happy with the results .

I took it all apart and made it into a Mobius cowl and a beanie.  

I have never knitted in Mobius style and it was fun.  

Its done on really long circular needles.  

The needle is looped as you cast on so when you are done there is a twist in the piece.  

It only took about three hours to knit the cowl since it was a chunky yarn and about two hours for the beanie.  

My kind of project.  

I did decide to participate in the #stithc9challenge sponsered by the Midwest Stitchers.  

It took some time to figure out what I was going to do and it maybe ambitious.

Sarah Braizear 1829 from Hands Across the Seas Samplers

Autumn at Hawk Run.

Two panels left after the ghosts in the cemetery is complete.   

That shouldn't take two long.  

A La-D-Da freebie that is very small and do-able 

I've had this for several years and really want to do it but, something shiny always comes up.  

I have the basket for it too from Olde Colonial Designs.  

It was a finishing kit.  

I started this to take with me when I went to North Carolina a 2015.

I got a little started so it would have been easy to pick up but, worked something else.  

It is from Brenda Gervais and was a Market exclusive that year.  

Homespun Elegance Ferry Farm Cherry Sampler.  

It is based on pottery shards found at George Washington's Ferry Farm.  

It is a really cool little piece.  

I have the box to finish this Brenda Gervais piece too.  

I picked a different color box.  

I hope I like it just as much as the white box but figured the brownish orange finish matched my decor better.  

Blackbird Designs Merrily, Merrily We Welcome Spring.  

I just love this piece!

Sorry about the sideways picture.

Little House Needleworks Farmhouse Christmas that I'm going to start over as a bellpull on 36 count natural.  

I saw it stitched up that way and it was phenomenal!

The only one I'm not sure about being able to finish is Sarah Braizear but, you never know.  

I had some runner ups:  

I took this picture of a Solomon's Temple Sampler in North Carolina and when I saw it, 

"Hey, there was a sampler called this in Needlework and Antique Sampler Quarterly.  

I really want to do it sometime soon but, it is monumental!

 This is a really cute pinkeep and a quick stitch.  

I tried to mix in a few shorter term projects into the mix just to help maintain sanity. 

I will eventually get to this someday soon.  

I did finish Christmas Bells are Ringing.  

I thought about using that as one of my 9 but that might be cheating.  

I did get a pieced started and finished in January that on someone's flosstube (can't remember whose)

said that was something in French that m eant the year was going to successful or something like that.

Our son Ed is suppose to be going to D.C. for business.  

This is his first work trip and the first time he has flown since he was a little kid.  

He's a little nervous but, travelling with two other guys from work.  

This should be good for his self confidence.  

Hopefully, the weather won't be as bad as forecasted. a

Or hopefully REALLY bad enough to stay home.  

I could use another day to stitch :) .  

Hope the weather is good where you are and you  had a great weekend.  

Stay safe and warm.

Keep stitching

Monica

Doggone Polar Vortex

It has been really cold here.

Yesterday morning when I got up it was -24  

The high was 6.  

This morning, Bob got up before me and it was -13.

When I got up about 40 minutes later, it dropped to -18.

The high was 1.

It is suppose to be very cold all week.  

Wednesday the high will be -3.  

It's that doggone Polar Vortex.  

We take the cranks off the casement windows so the shades will shut all the way, helping to keep the cold at bay but, today the mechanism was frosted up.  

If you ask me, that's cold!

I've been working on a scarf from Ravelry called The Hitchhiker.  

It uses a skein of sock yarn.  

The skein used in the pattern was larger than the one I used.  

I added some other very similar sock yarn to it.  

It was a simple knit but, fun.  

Been working diligently on BBD Christmas Bells are Ringing.  

I'm headed into the home stretch.  

After this, I may work on Sarah Brazier for a little while.  

I've been doing the SAL but, won't finish in their time frame.  

Then my favorite subject.  

He's got a little static cling going on.  

Didn't finish this until today, Tuesday. 
My phone doesn't send it to my google photos right away. 
I have a bunch of pics to be deleted but, if I hit that button, pictures disappear from the blog. 
What's up with that?

Everyone stay warm, stay home if you can and craft!
Keep on Stitching. 
Monica

It's Gonna Be a Cold One

Its been cold, we aren't the only ones.  

Its 8 pm and -3 but, feels like -13 and will be -12 tonight.  

It was sunny all day which was good.  

I didn't leave the house.  

I set up a jigsaw puzzle on the dining table. 

When I was a kid, my dad would set up a puzzle after Christmas.  

I picked up a puzzle while Christmas shopping.  

I figured it was a good way to get our butts out of chairs.  

I have been obsessed and nearly have the border done.  

Bob and Ed both helped but, some pieces in.  

I have gotten some stitching done since last posting.  

I should have taken a picture of my knitting project.

Oh well, next time.  

I really am loving this BBD design.  

I am done with the alphabets and just have the motifs.  

Go me!!

Was watching the talking heads this morning.  

Buster was on my lap, snooziing.

He doesn't like to have his picture taken but I got a Shih Tzu selfie.  

He's sleeping on the couch right now, snoring.  

So trying to decide if I want to commit to Farmgirl's Nine Project Challenge.

The only thing is I have no idea how to get Instagram to work.

It can't be that difficult.  

I do have an account, just never use it.  

I could also post daily updates etc.  

How hard can it be?!

But, its been fun thinking about what I would do.

I have Autumn at Hawkrun to finish along with Sarah Brazier.

I would have to throw in a couple of small ones otherwise I would never finish.  

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend.  

Stay warm and dry.

Keep on Stitching

Monica

So Many Patterns, So Little Time

There are so many patterns I want to do and just not enough time.

I’m working on Blackbird Design Merry Christmas. 

I’m loving the stitch!

It took me a while to get the border to meet but, I got it. 

I honestly don’t know what’s the right way to do this...border first or last. 

Probably doesn’t really matter. 

Generally I like to start in the middle and work out from there.

Next in the cue is BBD Merrily, Merrily We Welcome Spring. 

The border is great on that one!

I saw a Gigi R design that I need to order.  

Then there is all the stuff I have in my stash. 

As I have lamented before, part of it is the acquisition.

Trying a new process this year.

I like to meal plan so I can get what I need when grocery shopping.  

I got a rather large planner from a local realtor and thought I would keep track of what I cook from week to week.  

Nothing like being anal...but, I find we always eat the same thing or the family suggests the same things.

I even noted where the recipe can be located.  

You can probably find an app for this but, I think I like the hard copy.  

Tried two new recipes this weekend:  chicken and dumpling from a Taste of Home Soup cookbook

And Beef and Cheese Manicotti from Everyday Italian by Giada DeLaurentis.

The soup was great and the Manicotti smells pretty amazing!

Just a busy weekend on the whole.  

Winter, winter, winter.  

Hope you had a great weekend!

Heard there is a lot of Flu out there.

Wash your hands....best defense!

Keep on Stitching.

Monica

Waiting for Snow

We are suppose to have a big snow storm starting tonight to tomorrow,

It was gorgeous Friday and Saturday.

Sunny and highs in the 40"s

Four to eight inches of snow are predicted tonight to tomorrow morning then changing to rain in the afternoon.  

Talk about a mess!

I posted this picture, the top of the BBD Merry Christmas.  

I finished the section that goes around.

The colors are wonderful!

I tried to get a close up section.

You think I could get this to turn to the right orientation.  

I have tried and it just won't turn....the bugger!

Started the next BBD Christmas Bells are Ringing.

The colors are the same as this one.  

It really isn't very Christmas-y looking

I have only the very beginning of the border done and it took some doing but, I got it to finally meet.

Was ready to kick the dear husband in the butt.  

We have a family\ wedding to go to in February.  

I am short and fat.

I don't look good in a dress since I have such bad legs, like my dad's, varicose veins, spider veins, it looks like a flippin atlas :(

I bough a pair of palazzo pants a while ago.  

The last wedding we went too two years ago, they didn't fit.

Since then I have lost weight (hooray for me a whole size) so now they fit  

I got a top from an online site called North Style.  

I have bought clothes from them before and found a nice flowey top that is also chiffon.

I think it looks pretty good together.  

Do you think I got a "Thats nice" from the husband?'

Nope!

I got, "I really don't know much about that stuff."  

UGH!

My daughter assures me I look good and put together.  

I think I should  fine, I'm h hoping he just doesn't understand the pants are perfectly acceptable.  

We took the Christmas decorations all down.

I'm always so sad when we take them down.  

It is really a passing of time.  

Hope your weekend was pleasant and productive.  

Have a wonderful week.

Keep on Stitching.

Monica